Assisted Outpatient Treatment - Laura's Law

• County resident, minimum age 18
• Serious Mental Disorder (WIC 5600.3)
• This person is unlikely to survive safely in the community
• Lack of compliance with treatment indicated by:
  • 2 / 36 months, hospital prison, jail or
  • 1 / 48 months, serious and violence acts, threats, attempts to self / others.
• The person has been offered an opportunity to participate in treatment and failed to engage or refused.
• Condition is deteriorating
• Least restrictive placement
• Necessary to prevent 5150 condition
• Will benefit from treatment

Request for Service

A request for these services may come from one of the following:

• An adult whom the person lives with.
• Family members that include adult children, parents, siblings or spouse
• Law enforcement, parole, or probation officer
• Director of a public or private agency providing mental health services to that person
• Hospital director who is providing psychiatric care to that person
• Licensed mental health provider who is treating or supervising the person

Evaluation & Referrals

If you would like to refer someone for Assisted Outpatient Treatment, please call Nevada County Behavioral Health at (530) 265-1437 or email BH.Forensics@co.nevada.ca.us. 

Staff in collaboration with the Behavioral Health Director determines whether or not to proceed with an evaluation for Assisted Outpatient Treatment. During the investigation, Turning Point staff conduct outreach to engage and meet the individual, describe the program, and begin services, Most consumers voluntarily accept mental health services, rather than court order. Some individuals are required to attend a court hearing where a Superior Court Judge can order the consumer to follow a court-ordered treatment plan. All referrals of prospective consumers must first be approved by the Behavioral Health Director or his / her designee by contacting the main telephone line, email, letter or an in person meeting.